Electrical heater for a beverage

ABSTRACT

An electrical resistance element heater for a beverage adapted to be mounted upon a tray for use in an automobile with electric current being supplied from the cigar lighter socket of the automobile or the like. The heater has an enclosing means comprising two sections with a heating coil in each section, the arrangement being such that when the sections are in closed positions, the coils are in series and connected to the source of electrical energy, whereas the circuit is broken when the sections are separated.

United States Patent 1 [72] Inventor Robert E. "first 1,673,568 6/1928 Johnson 219/525 68 Musuolt Ave., Cranston, 11.1. 02905 1,676,677 7/1928 Axelrod 219/390 [21] Appl. No. 874,507 2,901,521 8/1959 Yoder et a1. 13/25 [22] Filed Nov. 6, 1969 2,978,563 4/1961 Hackman 219/375 [45] Patented Nov. 9,1971 3,013,141 12/1961 Ellis 219/524 3,093,104 6/1963 Bukata 13/22 X 3,227,798 1/1966 Delange et a1. 13/22 1 1 ELECTRICAL HEATER FOR A BEVERAGE 3,350,493 10/1967 Randall 13/22 1 l 4 Claims 5 Drum: F as Primary Examiner--Vol0dymyr Y. Mayewsky [52] US. Cl 2l9/386, A"0mey Bar|0w & Baflow 111/22, 219/202, 219/404, 219/407, 219/525 [51] Int. F24c 7/10 [50] Field of Search 219/394, ABSTRACT: An electrical resistance element heater for a 390, 38616244525, 0 beverage adapted to be mounted upon a tray for use in an au- 13/25, 22, 31 tomobile with electric current being supplied from the cigar lighter socket of the automobile or the like. The heater has an [56] Rehnnm enclosing means' comprising two sections with a heating coil in UNITED STATES PATENTS each section, the arrangement being such that when the sec- 1,534,087 4/1925 Sellew et a1 219/386 tions are in closed positions, the coils are in series and 3,521,030 7/1970 M h 219/386 X nected to the source of electrical energy, whereas the circuit is 677,399 7/1901 Conlin 219/525 x broken when the sections are separated.

ea/ T k \a Q g PATENTEDuuv 9 l97| I 3, 6 1 9 563 43 ME my INVENTOR ROBERT E, HIRST ATTORNEYS ELECTRICAL HEATER FOR A BEVERAGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I-Ieretofore electrical heaters having an enclosing means even though separable with a body and cover section usually have the heating coil in one of the sections, or if in both of the sections the coils are independent of each other. Thus, the separation of the sections does not act as a disconnect of the heating coil.

Summary of the Invention The enclosing means has two sections, one referred to as a body section and the other as a cover section, each of the sections has a heating coil with the sections so related that when they are assembled in closed position, the heating coils are connected in series by reason of engaging contacts at their opposite terminal ends. Some energizing means is connected to the coil in one section, but inasmuch as both section coils are in series when the sections are separated, this circuitry is interrupted, although when the sections are in closed position, the circuit is established and the heating takes place. Some indication of the heat in the enclosed area may also be provided. The entire device may bemounted on a tray adapted to the seat of a motor vehicle and energy for heating may be obtained from a cigar lighter socket of the motor vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a sectional view illustrating the two sections of the enclosing means in separated relation;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on a still larger scale of the con tacts at the opposite ends of the coils;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the heating device on a tray located on the seat of a motor vehicle; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of FIG. 4 and on a larger scale.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to FIG. 4, there is shown an automobile seat designated and a dashboard 11 having a cigar lighter socket 12 located therein. A tray I5 is located on the seat 10 with adjustable arms 16 and I7 on one side and 18 and 19 on the other side of extend over the front and back edges 20 and 21 of a seat for supporting it in position. The heater of this invention is designated generally 25, while cans 22 of liquid to be heated are held in position by clamp arms 23 and 24 extending upwardly from the tray 15. The heating device 25 for the container of liquid 22 is shown in greater detail in FIG. I. It may be secured to the tray in any suitable way. For example, the bottom wall of the heating device may have tapped holes 60 and screws 61 may extend through tray 15 into the holes.

The heater has enclosing means comprising a body section 26 and a cover section 27. Each of these is formed of heatinsulating material which has inwardly opening channels 28 (FIG. 2) in the body section and 29 in the cover section extending along the walls thereof and housing heating coils. A heating coil in the body section is designated 30 and has opposite terminal ends 31 and 32 connected to a suitable contact such as a circular arched contact 33 (see FIG. 3) extending about and supported by the upper end of the body section or following the contour of the body section if other than circular. The coil is of nichrome wire of a suitable diameter for providing the heat desired. The coil is interrupted as at 35 with leads 36 and 37 extending to a source of energy such as the l2-volt system of the automobile, there being a plug 38 (FIG. 4) adapted to fit into the cigar lighter socket on the dashboard of a motor vehicle. A coil 40 is located in the channel 29 of the cover section having its ends 41 and 42 connected to a contact such as a circular arched contact 43 (FIG. 3) at the ends of the channel, this coil also being of nichrome wire of the required diameter to provide the heat desired.

A bimetal strip 44 is secured to the inner surface of the cover section which, upon a certain heat being attained in the enclosure, will cause this bimetal strip to engage contact 45 so that the bimetal strip 44 which is secured as at 46 to a lead 47 to a lamp 48 will cause energy to be supplied to the lamp and return to the coil by means of the connection 49 so that a shunt current designed to be substantially 1.4 volts to the lamp will be provided. This signal bulb will be of the heat-flashing type so that a flashing light will be provided when the bimetal is in contact and current is flowing through the light circuit indicating the attainment of the heat desired.

The end portions of the two sections provide a telescopic fit between them by reason of a recess 50 on the outer surface of the body section whereas there is an internal recess 51 on the cover section so that the two sections may fit together in a telescoping or overlapping relation, there being provided a bayonet joint 54, 55 between the two so that when the sections are in closed position, they may be locked by a partial relative rotation of the section and thereby hold the circular contacts 33 and 43 in engagement. Thus, by the closing of the sections of the heater, while the cigar lighter is plugged in, there will then be a completed circuit and current will flow through these two coils in series to provide the heat desired. A l2-amp flow of current is contemplated. When the heat in the container arrives at a certain predetermined amount, the thermostatic metal 44 will close the contact to provide the signal desired.

This enclosing heater 25 is adapted to receive a can of liquid which might be coffee, and when the heat in the container or enclosing means has arrived at a certain point, it will be known that the coffee is ready, the top or cover section may be removed which will interrupt the circuit and stop the heating, the cover section may be lifted from position, and the can of coffee which has been heated may be opened and consumed.

lclaim:

1. An electrical heater comprising enclosing means having a body section and a cover section, both provided with walls made of material having both heat and electrical insulating properties, said sections having a fitting relation in closed position, each section being provided with an electrical heating coil having contacts at its opposite terminal ends, means to hold the coils attached to said walls, the fitting relation of said sections causing said contact of the coil in one section to engage the contacts of the coil in the other section to place said section coils in series and an insulated electrical cord extending from one of said coils to a source of electrical energy for causing current to pass through both coils when the sections are in fitted closed relation, said current flow being interrupted when said body and cover sections are separated, a tray is located beneath said heater, mounting means securing said body section to said tray to provide a better support therefor.

2. An electrical heater as recited in claim I said tray having means to attach it to an automobile seat.

3. An electrical heater comprising a body section and a cover section each in the form of a hollow shell whereby a completely enclosed storage chamber is formed therewithin when the sections are fitted together, both have walls made of material having both heat and electrical insulating properties,

said sections having a fitting relation in closed position, each section being provided with an electrical heating coil having contacts at its opposite terminal ends, means to hold the coils attached to said walls comprising substantially vertically oriented inwardly opening channels, the fitting relation of said sections causing said contacts of the coil in one section to engage the contacts of the coil in the other section to place said section coils in series, said contacts in each section being substantially circular so that they pass around the mouths of the respective cover and body sections and being of an arched cross section whereby a closed circuit is formed no matter at which position the top and bottom sections are fitted together and an insulated electrical cord extending from one of said coils to a source of electrical energy for causing current to pass through both coils when the sections are in fitted closed relation, said current fiow being interrupted when said body and cover sections are separated.

4. An electrical heater comprising a body section and a cover section each in the form of a hollow shell whereby a completely enclosed storage chamber is formed therewithin when the sections are fitted together, both have walls made of material having both heat and electrical insulating properties, said sections having a fitting relation in closed position, each section being provided with an electrical heating coil having contacts at its opposite terminal ends, means to hold the coils attached to said walls, the fitting relation of said sections causing said contacts of the coil in one section to engage the contacts of the coil in the other section to place said section coils in series and an insulated electrical cord extending from one of said coils to a source of electrical energy for causing current to pass through both coils when the sections are in fitted closed relation, said current flow being interrupted when said body and cover sections are separated, a light bulb viewably mounted in an aperture in said cover section, thermostatically operated means mounted within said cover section to shunt a portion of the current running through the coil in the cover section through said light bulb upon the chamber reaching a predetermined temperature. 

1. An electrical heater comprising enclosing means having a body section and a cover section, both provided with walls made of material having both heat and electrical insulating properties, said sections having a fitting relation in closed position, each section being provided with an electrical heating coil having contacts at its opposite terminal ends, means to hold the coils attached to said walls, the fitting relation of said sections causing said contacts of the coil in one section to engage the contacts of the coil in the other section to place said section coils in series and an insulated electrical cord extending from one of said coils to a source of electrical energy for causing current to pass through both coils when the sections are in fitted closed relation, said current flow beinG interrupted when said body and cover sections are separated, a tray is located beneath said heater, mounting means securing said body section to said tray to provide a better support therefor.
 2. An electrical heater as recited in claim 1 said tray having means to attach it to an automobile seat.
 3. An electrical heater comprising a body section and a cover section each in the form of a hollow shell whereby a completely enclosed storage chamber is formed therewithin when the sections are fitted together, both have walls made of material having both heat and electrical insulating properties, said sections having a fitting relation in closed position, each section being provided with an electrical heating coil having contacts at its opposite terminal ends, means to hold the coils attached to said walls comprising substantially vertically oriented inwardly opening channels, the fitting relation of said sections causing said contacts of the coil in one section to engage the contacts of the coil in the other section to place said section coils in series, said contacts in each section being substantially circular so that they pass around the mouths of the respective cover and body sections and being of an arched cross section whereby a closed circuit is formed no matter at which position the top and bottom sections are fitted together and an insulated electrical cord extending from one of said coils to a source of electrical energy for causing current to pass through both coils when the sections are in fitted closed relation, said current flow being interrupted when said body and cover sections are separated.
 4. An electrical heater comprising a body section and a cover section each in the form of a hollow shell whereby a completely enclosed storage chamber is formed therewithin when the sections are fitted together, both have walls made of material having both heat and electrical insulating properties, said sections having a fitting relation in closed position, each section being provided with an electrical heating coil having contacts at its opposite terminal ends, means to hold the coils attached to said walls, the fitting relation of said sections causing said contacts of the coil in one section to engage the contacts of the coil in the other section to place said section coils in series and an insulated electrical cord extending from one of said coils to a source of electrical energy for causing current to pass through both coils when the sections are in fitted closed relation, said current flow being interrupted when said body and cover sections are separated, a light bulb viewably mounted in an aperture in said cover section, thermostatically operated means mounted within said cover section to shunt a portion of the current running through the coil in the cover section through said light bulb upon the chamber reaching a predetermined temperature. 